Device for separating interleaved carbons



June 28, 1955 J. zALKlND 2,711,793

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING INTERLEAVED CARBONS Filed June l 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l j ATTORNEY June 28, 1955 J. zALKlND DEVICE FOR SEPARATING INTERLEAVED CARBONS Filed June 1. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E h NET ATTORNEY u@ Jungs Patented .lune 28, 1955 DEVICE FOR SEPARAT 1N G INTERLEAVED CARBONS Joseph Zalknd, New York, N. Y.

Application June 1, 1950Serial No. 165,471-

9 Claims. (Cl. 164-845) This invention relates to machines .for separating interleaved carbons and more particularly to a hand-powered machinel for performingA that function.

Reference is made to my Patent No. 2,289,161 of July 7', 1942, and to my co-pending application, Serial No. 81,439, iledMarch l5, i949, which show machines for separating carboiis from associated papers to which they are secured; such papers being termed manifold forms and beingattached together at one end to interleaved' carbons in a well-known manner, a perforate line on each sheet of the form being provided near the attachment area, all as well understood.

The present invention relates to a simpliiied and smaller version than those, referred to hereinabove, and intended for use under conditions ot' light'service, as distinguished' a device requiring no skill in the operation thereof andl which. may be manipulated with considerable ease.

In general, my device operates onY the principle of a toggle joint; I achieve this effect by providing a simple jointed or hinged structure comprising a pair of pivotally related members and means for securing a plurality of the forms thereto when said members are angularly related. Thus by'holding the forms against angularly related plates, the forms are automatically shingled. They may then be pulled apart with ease as the angle between the plates is increased by relative movement thereof.

A more detailed description of my invention now follows, taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective of the most simple embodiment of my toggle joint principle.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken longitudinally through an embodiment as shown in Figure l and illustrating a mode of operation of my device. n

Figure 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of' my invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section through 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section through 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan View of one end ofthe latter niodication showing certain details not otherwise apparent in Figures 3, 4, and 5. l

ReferringA now to Figures l and 2, my invention comprises abase member 10 supported on side flanges '13 and being formed witha cutout areal6 at the outer end thereof. yAdjacent to the cutout area are tabs or anges which form tinger support means for an operator. Hingedly secured to base member lil as by a pintle 24 is a movable member 27 similarly provided with a cutout area 3l) andiianges 33. A leaf spring 33 is carried by base 10 and serves to resiliently bias member 27` to an upward position.

The pivotal relationship between the members 10 and 27 is obvious on the drawing. If now a plurality of interleaved carbon forms 34 be placed on the flat areas of members it) and 27, when said members are angularly related as shown in Figure 2, it will be apparent that a progressive bellying out of the lowermost sheets. is effected as a consequence of the curvature of the stack.

This bellying out causes a shingling of the sheets at 35 when the ends of the sheets are grasped through the cutouts i6 and 3i? by the fingers of' an operator which find support against the flanges 20 and 33. If now theoperator exert a downward force on member 27 it will be apparent that the stack of sheets will be straightened` out and by virtue of the shiiigling eiect the uppermost forms are the first to separate from their carbons, the process of separation continuing down to the last form with clockwise motion of member 27. Thus, theentireability being provided in this particular embodiment in order to achieve a maximum of economy and simplicity.

It will further be apparent that the amount of stress which can be exerted to pull the forms apart depends on the initial angularity between members 10 and 27 when the forms are secured, thereto, which of course is a function of the relative difference between the length of the forms to be separated and the total distance between cutouts 16 and 36 as measured along the surfaces of members l0 and 27. Thus, as the angle between members 10 and 27 is increased by clockwise motion of member 27 the force becomes increasingly greater in accordance with Well-known principles of physics. It is apparent, therefore, that members l0 and 27 function as a toggle joint capable of exerting a considerable tensile force on the forms gripped therebetween; in fact, the tensile force is theoretically innite when the angularity is increased to 180 degrees.

I have found that an actual structure substantially as hereinabove described is very effectively operative and is clearly far superior to the conventional method of separating the forms merely by the use of lthe hands.

The modification shown in Figures 2 to 6 is somewhat more elaborate than that previously described; means being provided for adjusting the relatively pivotal members so as to accommodate a wide range of form lengths and additional means being provided on each member for mechanically gripping the ends of the forms.

Thus, by referring to the drawing, this latter embodiment is seen to comprise relatively pivotal members genare disposed inside of flanges, 61 of member 40, holes 56.

beingy provided in flanges 6l to accommodate the pintle,

as shown in Figure 5'.

In order to insure a substantiallyV continuous surface between the members for any degree of lengthwise-adjustment therebetween, a ilat leaf` spring 63# isI secured to the surface or top plate 64. of member 40, havingy a free end 66 always in contact with the top` surface or plate 67 'of member 44, which plate isgin; turn provided with a tongue 70 that engages the free ended whenthe two members are extended a relatively large distance.

While the spring 66 and tongue 70 are not essential to the operation of the device, they are included to guard against the possibility of the lowermost sheets of paper being snagged between the innermost edge 73 of plate 64 and the surface or top plate 67 of member 44.

Thus, when it is desired to adjust members 44 and 47 to accommodate any particular form length, it is merely necessary to remove pintle 47, slide the members relatively to the desired degree of extension, aligning the holes of member with any parallel holes 55 of member 44 and replacing7 pintle 47.

The gripping means on each of the relatively movable members are identical and like reference characters will be used therefor. Each consists of a bracket-like jaw having pivotal arms 83 passing downwardly through slots in the top plates of their respective members and supported transversely between the anges thereof by pintles 86. In each case a bracket having side anges 91 is pivotally secured by a pintle 93 between the arms 83 as best shown in Figures 4 and 6. An additional bracket 100, which is another jaw of the gripping means, has side anges 103 through which a pintle 106 passes is pivotally secured between the anges 91 of bracket 90, pintle 106 bearing in flanges 91. Additionally, bracket is pivotally secured by a pintle 119 passing through the side anges of their respective members. The transverse plate 112 of jaw 100 is formed with teeth 113 protruding up through their respective top plates by means of slots 115 so as to be engageable with teeth provided on jaw 80.

Secured to pintle 106 are a pair of spaced springs 123 fastened at their opposite ends to, and below, their respective plates 64 and 67 as by studs 126. The jaw elements Si) and 100 and the bracket 91 form a quadrilateral linkage actuatable by a handle 108 against the bias of springs 123. These springs exert a strong pulling force and maintain teeth 113 and 120 in powerful engagement with each other. When, however, the handle 108 of jaw 80 is drawn backthat is, to the leftas viewed for the member 40 on Figure 4, the teeth are separated. Partial separation is shown for means 50 of member 40 to indicate the clamping of a stack of forms between teeth 113 and 120, Figure 4.

When, however, handle 108 is drawn all the way back, teeth 113 pass below the surface of their respective plates 64 and 67, as shown for plate 67 in Figure 4, so that forms may be placed thereover without being impeded.

A trigger device is provided for holding jaw 80 in retracted, or cocked, position consisting of a plate or trigger having a bent-over end 133 carried in a slot 136 in the end liange of each member, there being sufficient looseness between the slot and trigger 130 as to permit a certain amount of vertical pivotal play thereof. A leaf spring 143 is secured to trigger 130 by a pin 146 and nut 148, and serves to bias trigger 130 upwardly by thrusting against pintle 86. The upper end of pin 146 terminates in a button 156. The inner end of trigger 130 is provided with a bent-up flange 153, such that, when the handle 103 is retracted so that the transverse body portion 150 of bracket 90 slides past flange 153, the edge 160 of bracket 90 will be caught against the bent-up tip 153 to thus hold jaw 80 in cocked position. This condition is seen for the jaw 80 of member 44 in Figure 4. If, however, the button 156 be depressed, plate 130 will be forced downward against the pressure of spring 143, thus releasing the edge 160, whence springs 123 will cause jaw 80 to snap to closed position, the teeth 120 and 113 moving towards each other to engage firmly and securely clamping any forms placed therebetween.

A Z-shaped formation 164, having a sloping abutment plate 165, is secured to each member 40 and 44 and extends transversely across the mouth of the jaw 80 and rearwardly thereof, being formed with notches 167 so that teeth 120 may move over and beyond member 164 when til) 4. being retracted. That is, the teeth 120 pass through notches 167 in the backward motion of jaw S0.

Each member 40 and 44 has a handle 170 provided at the outer end thereof.

In operation of the device, a stack of forms is placed with its opposite ends in abutment with respective sloping abutments 165, the members 4t) and 44 being angularly related as shown in Figure 4, it being understood that the jaws 3() have been cocked open. The buttons 156 are now depressed, whence jaws 80 snap forward to grasp the form ends. lf now the members 40 and 44 are straightened out by means of the handles' 170, the carbons will be separated. It will be noted that the backward slanting of the abutments 164 serves to initially shingle the stack of forms although, of course, it will be recognized that such shingling could be effected in the manner as shown in Figure 2; that is, by the progressive bellying out of the plurality of paper sheets.

While the form shown on Figures 4-6 could be manipulated while being held in the hands of an operator, it will be found more convenient to rest member 44 on a table so that it is normally stationary, and actuate only member 4t), in the mode of operation previously described in connection with Figure 2.

I am aware that my invention may be modified in many ways and accordingly I do not seek to be limited to the specific disclosure except as set forth in the appended claims.

1 claim:

l. A device for gripping the margin of a stack of forms comprising a base structure for supporting said stack, a lower jaw element having a stack engaging edge, an upper jaw element mounted on said base structure, and having a stack engaging edge movable to or from the stack engaging edge of said lower jaw element, and means for causing simultaneous motion of said edges toward or away from each other to clamp or release said margin, wherein said means comprises a spring and mechanism for stressing said spring when the stack engaging edges of said jaws are separated.

2. A device for gripping the margin of a stack of forms comprising a base structure for supporting said stack, a lower jaw element having a stack engaging edge, an upper jaw element mounted on said base structure and having a stack engaging edge movable to or from the stack engaging edge of said lower jaw element, and means for causing simultaneous motion of said edges toward or away from each other to clamp or release said margin, wherein said means comprises a spring and mechanism for stressing said spring when the stack engaging edges of said jaws are separated, including a latch element for holding said stack engaging edges in separated condition, and means for releasing said latch element at the will of an operator to cause said edges to clamp a margin by virtue of the stress in said spring.

3. A device for gripping the margin of a stack of forms comprising a base structure for supporting said stack, a lower jaw element having a stack engaging edge, an upper jaw element mounted on said base structure, and having a stack engaging edge movable to or from the stack engaging edge of said lower jaw element, and means for causing simultaneous motion of said edges toward or away from each other to clamp or release said margin, including an apertured surface carried by said base structure, said lower jaw element being disposed below said aperture, the stack engaging edge of said jaw being operative to protrude and recede through said apertured surface as said lower jaw element is actuated toward or away from said upper jaw element.

4. A device for separating a stack of interleaved carbon forms, comprising a pair of elongated elements and means hinging said elements to each other at their inner ends for relative pivotal motion, each of said elements having an area for supporting atleast one-third of the area in the planes of said supporting areas, means carried by said elongated elements spaced from said hinging means for gripping opposed edges of said stack, said elements being pivotally movable to substantially co-planar position, whereby a stack may be gripped at opposite edges to the outer ends of said elements, when said elements are disposed at substantially less than a straight angle so that a heavy tensile force may be exerted on said stack as said elements are forced toward cti-planar position, one of said elements being adapted to be supported on a table and the other element being thus pivotal away from said table to adjust to the length of a stack of forms and being pivotal toward said table upon force being applied to said element to separate s'aid stack.

5. A device for separating a stack` of interleaved carbon forms, comprising a pair of elongated elements having areas for supporting respective areas of said stack, hinging means joining said elements to provide pivotal motion therebetween, wherein said hinging means is substantiallyY in the planes of said supporting areas, means for gripping respective edges of said stack while said stack is resting on said areas, said gripping means being spaced from said hinging means and carried by said elements, the snm of the distances of each of said gripping means from said hinge means being greater than the length of a stack to be separated, whereby said elements are related to each other at less than a straight angle when a stack is grippingly placed between said gripping means, and whereby said elements approach a straight angle in exerting a tensile force on said stack, one of said elements being adapted to be supported on a table and the other element being thus pivotal away from said table to adjust to the length of a stack of forms and being pivotal toward said table upon force being applied to said element to separate said stack.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5, including means for adjusting the pivotal axis between said members so as t0` vary the distance between said gripping means.

7. A device for separating a stack of interleaved carbon forms, comprising a pair of elongated elements having areas for supporting respective areas of said stack, means for gripping respective edges of said stack while said stack is resting on said areas, said gripping means being carried by said elements, hinge means joining said elements to provide pivotal motion therebetween; the sum of the distances of each of said gripping means from said hinge means being greater than the length of a stack to be separated, whereby said elements are related to each other at less than a straight angle when a stack is grippingly placed between said gripping means, and whereby said elements approach a straight angle in exerting a tensile 5 force on said stack, wherein one of said gripping means comprises a movable jaw and a spring for biasing said jaw toward its respective member.

8. A device for separating a stack of interleaved carbon forms comprising a pair of members having respective stack-supporting means forming support areas on which a stack of forms may be rested, and a pivoted joint intermediate said members and substantially in the plane of said support areas whereby said means may be angularly related with respect to each other, each of said members being provided with means spaced from said pivoted joint to effect gripping of a respective edge of a stack of forms while said stack is resting on said areas, the gripping means of said members being spaced from each other and on respective opposite sides of said pivotal joint, said stack-supporting means being intermediate said gripping means, one of said members being adapted to be supported on a table and the other member being thus pivotal away from said table to adjust to the length of a stack of forms and being pivotal toward said table upon force being applied to said member to separate said stack.

9. A device for separatiry7 a stack of interleaved carbon forms comprising a pair of plate members having respective stack-supporting areas and respective edges adjacent to each other, a hinge joint disposed between said plate members and being substantially in the planes of said areas whereby relative pivotal motion therebetween is' eiected, said members being provided with respective means spaced from said hinge joint for gripping respective edges ot' a stack` of forms supported on said areas, said gripping means being thus spaced from each other and from said hinge joint, one of said members being adapted to be supported on a table and the other member being thus pivotal away from said table to adjust to the length of a stack of forms and being pivotal toward said table upon force being applied to said member to separate said stack.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 343,412 Willix June 8, 1886 527,109 Cunnings Oct. 9, 1894 641,333 Saltzkorn et al Jan. 16, 1900 648,976 Mourad May 8, 1900 680,757 Braucht Aug. 20, 1901 1,913,392 Jacobson June 13, 1933 2,016,710 Ferris Oct. 8, 1935 2,160,080 Newgard May 30, 1939 2,289,161 Zalkind July 7, 1942 2,579,835 Lather Dec. 25, 1951 

